Aeroplane.



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M. JOVANOVIGH.

ABROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1911.

Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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M. JOVANOVICH.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1911.

1,013,601 Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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UNITE STATES PATENT QFFICE.

MICHAEL JOVANOVICH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AEROPLA'NE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

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Serial No. 619,523.

To all whom it may concern' Be it known that I, MICHAEL J OVANOVIOH, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in aeroplanes, and the object of my invention is to produce a simple machine of this type which can be readily operated, and which is particularly safe by reason of the fact that the mainframe carrying the principal weight is suspended from the plane of the machine so that it is practically impossible In carrying out this idea I suspend the frame freely, and also provide means for adjusting the pitch of the plane with relation to the suspended frame so that the trajectory of the machine can be easily controlled.

A further object of my invention is to produce a plane which simulates in structure, the wing of a bird, and which is adapted to pass readily through the air, and while light, afford a good support for the body portion of the machine.

- A further object of my invention is to place the machine under perfect control, provide a tail which will preserve its balance, and provide a steering mechanism which when the machine is on the ground will run like an ordinary wheel, and which when the machine is in the air will serve perfectly the purposes of steering.

I prefer to construct my machine in the monoplane style, but from the description which follows it will be seen that the machine may be suspended and controlled with equal facility though a plurality of planes are used.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a broken plan view with the covering of the plane removed.

The machine is provided with a single plane 10, though as previously stated, one or more similar planes can be mounted above and connected to this plane if desired, and the plane has a light framework comprising the longitudinal girders 11, 11

and 11 and the cross ribs 12. These ribs give the desired transverse shape to the machine, and by reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen that they curve downward at the front as shown at 12 and slightly upward at the rear as shown at 12*, thus simulating the formation of a birds wing. This is, of course, covered with canvas or other suitable fabric, and it is strengthened by providing it with vertical frames 13 and extending suitable guys 14 from these frames to the end and other desired portions of the framework of the plane.

Near the center of the plane and on the under side are hangers 15 which can be of any approved form or style, and these support a shaft 16 from which the main frame 17 is suspended. This framework should be made light and of skeleton structure, and of course its design can be varied at will. It is provided with an axle 18 of any approved form, mounted in wheels 19, and the front end of the frame is carried forward and extended to the edge as shown in Fig. 3. Near the front of the machine is a steering wheel 20 which is provided with a steering fork 21 like that of an ordinary bicycle, and this extends up through a suitable support 22 and at its upper end is connected by cables 23 with a wheel 24 on the vertical shaft 25, this being arranged in suitable bearings, and within easy reach of the seat 26 on which the operator sits. Thus the operator can readily direct the wheel so as to steer the machine when it is on the ground. The same purpose is conserved when the machine is in the air, and to provide for this I cover the sides of the wheel 20 with some suitable fabric or other wind resisting material. The sides of the wedge shaped part of the frame are covered with canvas or the like as shown at 17 in Fig. 1.

To provide a suitable connection between the front edge of the plane and the machine frame 17 and at the same time to provide for tilting the plane 10, I use mechanism controlled from the seat, and while I do not limit myself to the mechanism shown, it is convenient for the purpose. Rods 27 are vertically arranged on the machine frame, and at the top these rods are pivoted to arms 28 which are secured to one of the girders 11 of the plane 10, and at their lower ends the rods terminate in racks 29 which engage pinions 30 on the shaft 31 which is transversely mounted in the frame 17. The shaft 31 is connected by means of bevel pinions 32 and 33 (see Fig. 2) with a stud 34, and the latter has a sprocket wheel 35 connecting by a link belt 36 with a sprocket wheel 37 on the vertical shaft 38 which extends upward in front of the seat 26 and is provided with a wheel 39, or equivalent means of operation, and thus by turning the wheel, the rods 27 may be raised or lowered and the pitch of the monoplane 10 controlled. It will be readily seen that by tipping the plane 10 more or less, the machine may be made to travel upward or downward or level, as desired. I prefer the plural connection with the plane 10, because if an accident should happen to one of the rods 27 or its connections, the other would still serve the purpose.

On the rear end of the machine I arrange a tail after the general design of the tail of a bird, and this comprises the lower and upper members 40 and 41, which are secured to the frame 17 and converge at the rear of the machine, and they support a tail plane 42 which is covered with fabric and which can be set at the desired angle.

The main frame 17 is provided with a boxlike central part comprising cross pieces 17 and floor pieces 17, and the lower portion or floor-like structure serves to carry the engines 43 which are arranged in duplicate, and each of which connects by a suitable drive belt 44 with a propeller shaft 45, each shaft being mounted in the upper pieces 17 and each shaft carrying a suitable propeller 46. It will thus be seen that the driving mechanism of the machine is in duplicate so that if an accident should happen to one group of mechanism the other will drive the machine. I have not shown the engines in detail, nor the connection by which the en gines can be controlled from the seat 26, as these features do not form part of my present invention, and anything suitable can be used.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide a machine which cannot be very well turned over because the whole body portion is suspended from the frame 10, that I provide means for properly balancing the machine in the air, for steering it either in the air or on the ground, and that the whole affair is simple and easily controlled and managed. It will also be understood that while I have shown the machine adapted for a single passenger, it can be readily made to accommodate more if desired.

I claim 2- A flying machine comprising a plane, a main body portion suspended solely from a transverse pivot on the under side of the frame, said body portion carrying propelling mechanism and having a forwardly projecting wedge shaped portion with covered sides, a rearwardly extending horizontal tail piece, wheels on the rear sides, and a front wheel serving as a steering wheel on the ground and in the air, and a gear mechanism connecting the main body portion with the edge of the plane, whereby the pitch of the latter can be regulated.

MICHAEL J OVANOVICH.

IVit-nesses:

WARREN B. HUTOHINSON, THOMAS T. SEELYE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. G. 

